1 For ye yourselves, brethren, know our entrance among you, that it was not in vain.
2 But though we had suffered before and been injuriously treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we spake boldly in the name of our God to declare unto you the gospel of God with much conflict.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of impurity, nor in guile:
4 but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering speech, as ye know, nor covetous pretence, God is witness:
6 nor sought we glory of men, neither of you, nor of others: though we might have expected maintenance, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 so we, being affectionately desirous of you, were willing to impart to you, not only the gospel of God, but even our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for working night and day, that we might not be burthensome to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved towards you that believe:
11 as ye know likewise, how we exhorted and comforted every one of you, as a father his children;
12 and charged you, that ye should walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.
13 For this also we thank God continually, that when ye received the word of God, which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which also worketh effectually in you that believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God, which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus, in that ye also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews:
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; who are displeasing to God, and contrary to all men:
16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, thus going on to fill up their sins perpetually: but wrath is coming upon them to extremity.
17 But we, brethren, being separated from you for a season, in person not in heart, endeavoured the more earnestly to see you again with much desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you (even I Paul) once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? are not ye also among others in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 for ye are our glory and our joy.